Ep. #632: Esther Perel, Glenn Loury, Daniel Bessner

Podcast Summary

• Fox News Settles with Dominion for $787 Million, Maher Criticizes Hypocrisy and Mocks Tucker Carlson: Fox News settled with Dominion Voting Systems for spreading false election claims, Bill Maher criticized their hypocritical statement and mocked Tucker Carlson for his texts about Sidney Powell.

  During the latest episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher discussed various topics including 420, Fox News' lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems, international news, and the potential 2024 presidential race between Biden and Trump. A significant part of the episode revolved around Fox News' settlement with Dominion for spreading false claims about the 2020 election. Maher criticized Fox News for their hypocritical statement about maintaining high journalistic standards while settling for $787 million. He also mocked Tucker Carlson for his derogatory texts about Sidney Powell, a lawyer who pushed election conspiracy theories on Fox News. The episode also touched on Russia bombing its own city, Belgorod, and the possibility of Biden running for president again in 2024. Trump, who is facing multiple trials, was also mentioned as a rapper who gains "street cred" from being indicted. The episode featured guests Glenn Loury, Daniel Bester, and Esther Perel.

• The Crisis of Loneliness and Technology's Role in Intimacy: Technology can give a false sense of connection, leading to decreased social skills and negatively impacting sexual health and overall well-being. Authentic relationships require overcoming obstacles to foster genuine desire.

  Despite our increased connectivity through technology, we are experiencing a crisis of loneliness and a lack of meaningful relationships and intimacy. Technology, including phones, can give us a false sense of connection through artificial intimacy, but it often leads to distracted communication and decreased social skills. This, in turn, can negatively impact our sexual health and overall well-being. The erotic equation of attraction plus obstacle equals desire is essential for fostering genuine connections and desire, and removing these obstacles can lead to a lack of passion and fulfillment in our relationships. It's important to remember that sex is not just a performance, but rather an expression of the erotic quality that fuels our desire for connection and intimacy.

• Constant reinvention and renegotiation in long-term relationships: Treat your relationship as a living organism, remember equality, and maintain open communication while exploring desires.

  A successful long-term relationship requires constant reinvention and renegotiation. The partners are not the same people they were when they first met, and the relationship should be treated as a living, breathing organism that needs to be infused with creativity and curiosity. It's important to remember that your partner does not belong to you, but rather, you are both equal contributors to the relationship. This mindset keeps the relationship interesting and prevents complacency. Additionally, it's important to understand that sex and desire are not politically correct and can involve fantasies and role-play that may not align with societal norms. These elements are not meant to be true in reality but can enhance the erotic experience. The key is to maintain open communication and mutual respect while exploring each other's desires.

• Authenticity vs. Fantasy in Relationships: Authentic connection enriches relationships, while fantasy can be an unhealthy escape. Society's lack of grand projects and shared beliefs may contribute to anger and violence.

  The discussion touched upon the importance of authenticity and connection in relationships, contrasted with the use of fantasy as an escape. The speaker expressed disdain for those who fantasize during intimate moments, preferring instead a focus on enriching the experience through imagination and poetry. The conversation also touched upon the topic of violence in America, with the speakers agreeing that alienation, anger, and easy access to guns are contributing factors. The lack of grand projects or shared beliefs in society may be exacerbating these issues. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of genuine connection and the potential consequences of disconnection and escapism.

• Addressing Complex Societal Issues: Chicago Election and Senseless Violence: Effective leadership and policy changes, including wealth redistribution, are necessary to address societal disrespect, anger, and division, as exemplified by the Chicago mayoral election and senseless violence.

  The current state of society is marked by disrespect, anger, and division, often fueled by trivial matters and socioeconomic conditions. The shootings in Chicago and other cities highlight the need for addressing both cultural and socioeconomic issues. Moral leadership and policy changes, including redistribution of wealth and resources, are crucial in addressing these complex problems. The mayoral election in Chicago serves as an example of the need for strong moral leadership and effective policy solutions to combat senseless violence and create opportunities for communities. Additionally, addressing issues like shoplifting and police morale requires a holistic approach, considering both the policy and cultural aspects.

• Addressing societal structures to reduce crime: A cultural shift with material redistribution, democratic politics, community leaders, and education can help reduce crime and violence.

  Addressing the root causes of crime and violence requires a focus on the larger societal structures, rather than just individual criminal actions. The speaker suggests that the high rates of violence in communities like Chicago, where young black men are disproportionately killing each other, are not being addressed enough. He argues that a cultural shift, potentially involving material redistribution and democratic politics, could help bring about change. However, the speaker acknowledges that this is a complex issue and that simple solutions, such as giving more money or focusing solely on education, may not be sufficient. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of community leaders and celebrities using their influence to encourage positive change. Ultimately, the speaker argues that a multi-faceted approach that addresses the underlying causes of alienation, loneliness, and poverty is necessary to reduce crime and violence.

• Addressing educational disparities for Black students: The Democratic party can encourage innovation and value teachers' labor to address complex issues like underfunded schools and low reading proficiency among Black students, ensuring resources are used effectively and ethically.

  Addressing the educational disparities faced by Black students requires a multifaceted approach. It's not just about throwing money at the issue, but also ensuring that the structure and culture of the educational system support effective learning. The issue of underfunded schools and lack of proficiency in reading skills among Black students is complex, with factors including inadequate curriculum, lack of innovation, and low teacher salaries. The Democratic party, as the backbone of the education system, has a role to play in encouraging innovation and valuing teachers' labor. The failure of the system to adequately educate children comes with significant consequences for the future of those students. The recent settlement between Dominion and Fox News serves as a reminder that lies have consequences, but also that they can be profitable. The educational system, like other industries, needs accountability and transparency to ensure that resources are used effectively and ethically.

• Profit-driven media bias and consumer satisfaction: Capitalist media prioritizes consumer satisfaction over truth, leading to potential bias and manipulation. Increased regulation and public involvement are necessary to maintain media accountability and unbiased reporting.

  The profit-driven nature of capitalist media, as exemplified by Fox News, can lead to biased news coverage and a focus on pleasing audiences over delivering accurate information. This business model, which prioritizes consumer satisfaction over truth, can create a media landscape where corporations hold significant power and manipulate the news to maintain their interests. The solution to this issue is not a government takeover, but rather increased regulation and public involvement to ensure that media remains accountable and unbiased. The consumer-centric capitalist society in the United States, which values freedom of choice over all else, contributes to this problem by placing the power in the hands of those who pay for the media. However, finding a balance between maintaining a free society and preventing media manipulation is a complex issue that requires careful consideration.

• College administrators prioritize consumer experience over education: 70% of professors are non-tenured, leading to low pay, no job stability, and no benefits. Administrators focus on regulations, meetings, and alumni donations instead of teaching or research.

  The role of administrators in colleges has significantly increased in the last few decades, leading to a consumer-driven focus on the college experience rather than education. This shift has resulted in many negative consequences, including the fact that about 70% of professors are now non-tenured, meaning they have low pay, no job stability, and no benefits. These administrators primarily oversee regulations, attend meetings, and cultivate alumni for donations, rather than educating students or producing new knowledge. This trend reflects the larger issue of "bullshit jobs" in the American economy, where people spend their days at work without producing much value. The speakers suggest that to prioritize education again, the focus of college needs to shift back to its educational purpose.

• Discussion on cancel culture and proposed award show to honor those who stand up against it: Cancel culture is a problem that goes beyond political affiliations, with liberals now being the main instigators. The Cohonies award show aims to celebrate individuals and organizations who have shown courage in the face of attempts to silence them.

  Cancel culture, the practice of publicly shaming and boycotting individuals or organizations for expressing unpopular opinions, is a violation of free speech and a problem that transcends political affiliations. During the discussion, it was noted that in the past, conservatives were the primary critics of censorship, but now, liberals are the main instigators. The entertainment industry came together to discuss this issue and proposed creating an award show, the Cohonies, to honor those who have stood up against cancel culture. The first recipient was Martha Pollock, the president of Cornell University, for her refusal to provide trigger warnings for lectures. The Cohonies aim to celebrate individuals and organizations who have shown courage in the face of attempts to silence them.

• Defending Free Speech and Artistic Expression: Standing up for free speech and artistic expression, even in the face of public pressure, can preserve creative works and personal convictions.

  Standing up for free speech and refusing to cave to public pressure can lead to the preservation of creative works and personal convictions. Trader Joe's and Ted Sarandos, in the face of controversy, chose to defend their ethics and artistic expressions, and as a result, they were able to maintain their integrity and continue their endeavors. The controversy surrounding Trader Joe's ethnically themed product labels and Dave Chappelle's comedy special were met with public outcry, but both parties refused to back down. Trader Joe's released a statement expressing their disagreement with the accusations of racism, while Ted Sarandos reminded his employees that comedy exists to challenge boundaries and that if they couldn't support the content breadth, Netflix may not be the best place for them. These examples demonstrate the importance of holding firm to one's beliefs, even in the face of public scrutiny and pressure. The controversy surrounding these issues may fade, but the impact of standing up for free speech and artistic expression can last.